Fatehi Hassanabad A, Kidd WT, Novick RJ, Warshawski F, Kromm JA. Brain death post cardiac surgery: A modified apnea test to confirm death by neurologic criteria for a patient on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.
J Card Surg 2022;
37:1764-1769. [PMID:
35318714 DOI:
10.1111/jocs.16428]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2021] [Revised: 10/16/2021] [Accepted: 01/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Death by neurologic criteria (DNC) requires coma, absent brainstem reflexes, and the inability to breathe independently during apnea testing (AT). For patients on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), this clinical determination is more challenging. Herein, we report the case of a patient with DNC on ECMO post cardiac surgery, highlighting various considerations to the process and modifications required for AT.
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